Intervals in Music: A Guide to Understanding and Using Them.

Intervals are the building blocks of music and understanding them is crucial for any musician. In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about intervals, including the standard definition, shortcuts to learn chords in all 12 keys, and how to use intervals to transpose music.

An interval is the space between two notes. To define an interval, you need to label the two notes with letters. There are seven letters in the Western music alphabet – A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. The primary classification of an interval is determined by the letters used to label the two notes. For instance, if you're going from C to G, that's a fifth because there are five letters involved.

However, notes can have more than one name. For example, you can call a note E flat or D sharp depending on the context. This affects how you define the interval. So, the first thing you need to know is the letters of the notes.

Once you know the letters, you can get into the details of the space between them. There are different types of intervals, including unisons, seconds, thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, sevenths, and octaves. The most commonly used intervals are included in a sheet that you can download for free from the link in the video description.

Intervals can be diminished or augmented, which means they're flattened or sharpened. For instance, if you sharpen a fourth, fifth, unison, or second, it's referred to as augmented. If you flatten it, it's referred to as diminished. The thirds, sixths, and sevenths are usually major or minor.

Now that you understand the basics of intervals, let's talk about shortcuts to learn chords in all 12 keys. Thinking in intervals enables you to transpose everything in all 12 keys. It helps you quickly find the notes of chords and scales. For instance, if you know that a C major chord is made up of the notes C, E, and G, you can use intervals to find the notes of an F major chord, which is made up of the notes F, A, and C.

Intervals are like the DNA code of music. They're the foundation of how music works. And when you're analyzing and thinking about music, thinking in intervals is essential. It helps you transpose music, find notes quickly, and understand the structure of music.

In summary, intervals are the space between two notes, determined by the letters used to label them. They can be diminished or augmented, major or minor. Thinking in intervals is a shortcut to learn chords in all 12 keys and transpose music. Understanding intervals is crucial for any musician.